The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is favouring policemen, their own staff and other government staff by not arresting or fining them despite being caught travelling in coaches reserved for the disabled, according to a Right to Information (RTI) activist.
Nitin Gaikwad, the activist, filed a query in January asking for the number of policemen and other railway staff caught travelling in compartments for the disabled. In their reply, the Railway Protection Force said in the past two years, just 61 policemen and government employees have been fined, among the 24,400 cases registered in all. Fines worth ₹38,58,587 were collected in the period.
“Everyone knows that police and government staffers travel regularly in compartments for the handicapped. But the RPF registers cases against regular people travelling in these coaches and spare the policemen and railway staffers,” said Mr. Gaikwad.
The RPF has, however, filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court saying it has registered cases against 263 police and government staffers, he said. “In that case, how can they lie in the RTI?”
Mr. Gaikwad alleged that after registering these cases, the RPF fines and creates a chargesheet for the other passengers, whereas in the case of government employees, they just take their identity cards and details about them. “Later, they just warn them and leave. This is just because the RPF favours them, as they are from the same group and must also be doing work for them.”
T.N. Dubey, a former member of the Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee and President of the Naisargik Viklang Seva Sangh, agreed with Mr. Gaikwad. “It’s true that the RPF doesn’t pay much attention to crimes committed by the police and government employees. They only register cases against regular passengers.”
Sachin Bhalode, senior divisional security commissioner, CR, however, said those who vacated the compatment after the RPF asked them to, were not prosecuted. “The laws are same for everyone. Section 155 of the Railway Act mentions this.”
